Welcome to United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Continent: ASIA

Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)

Driving Side: Right

Dialling Code: +971

Official Language: Arabic

Population: 9,581,000

Time Zone: GST (UTC+4)

Sometimes called the Emirates or the UAE; the United Arab Emirates is an Arabian Peninsula nation in the Persian Gulf. It is home to the world’s tallest Man made structure – Burj Khalifa and has the second largest economy in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). The country borders Oman to the East, Saudi Arabia to the North and also shares boundaries with Iran and Qatar.

The UAE is a federation of Seven Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. Each Emirati is governed by an independent Monarch; the Emir of Abu Dhabi serves as the President of the United Arab Emirates, and the Emir of Dubai is the Prime Minister; together with other Emirs, they all form the Federal Supreme Council.

The country is dry all year round, getting only a few days of rain a year. The weather from late October through mid-march is quite pleasant while rain can happen between November and February. In the summer, temperatures rise as high as reach 50 °C (122 °F) or even more and humidity is so low.

Communications

The country dialling code is +971.

There are internet cafes in the major towns and web censorship rears its head up, now and then. Where there are block access by operators, most people use a VPN Service to bypass the restrictions.

Customs

The Emirati culture is primarily based on Arabian culture and has been influenced by Persian, Indian, and East African cultures. Islam is the largest and official religion but there is tolerance and non-interference towards other faiths.

Duty Free

Items listed below may be imported into the UAE without incurring customs duty:

400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 500 grams of tobacco.

4L of wine or spirits or 24 cans of beer.

Goods/ gifts with a value of AED 3, 000 or less.

Personal belongings

More information can be found on the Dubai Duty Free website - http://www.dubaidutyfree.com/

Getting Around

Distances with the United Arab Emirates are relatively short and the well lit roads connect all the emirates. The Metro in Dubai is a perfect example of getting around that city and environs. Although there can be traffic congestions during peak periods, roads are clearly signposted in Arabic and English for easy and stress free access.

Air:

Daily flights link Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from almost every country on earth. There are flights for charter and various landing fields in and around the key emirates.

Car Hire, Taxis, Buses and Bikes:

Various international car hire companies are represented at the airport, hotels and sometimes, the malls. The local firms also offer care hire services but at a cheaper price. Tourists and visitors are required to present a credit card, both a valid international or national license and passport.

Taxis are readily available and convenient. They can be flagged down on the street, pre-booked over the phone or picked up outside the hotel. Most drivers are usually familiar with the surrounding and know all the popular souqs, malls, attractions and hotels.

Although visitors tend to rely on taxis and tour guides in moving around, the well air-conditioned buses are a good alternative. Bus routes, maps and time tables are available at the bus stations and online; and are posted in English and Arabic.

Cycling has not really taken off in the UAE and cycle paths are currently limited.

Water:

There are water transportation services, with commercial and passenger ferries available in the coastal regions. Deira and Dubai also have water taxis. There are also a number of private boat journeys from Abu Dhabi to various islands.

Health

Standard of healthcare in the UAE is generally high and life expectancy at birth is 78.5 years.

Language

Arabic is the official language in the UAE, however, English is widely spoken, especially in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while Gulf Arabic is spoken by the Emirati people. Due to immigration, Hindi and Urdu are also widely spoken and understood. Other languages widely spoken include Malayalam, Tamil, Farsi (Persian), and Tagalog (Filipino).

Money

The official currency for the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) which is denoted as Dhs or DH.

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